Kansas Football Player Who Collapsed On Field Dies After Being Taken Off Life Support
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4) - A Kansas high school football player who was declared brain dead at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood after collapsing on the sideline during a state playoff game Tuesday night has died.
Luke Schemm, 17, had just scored 2-point conversion after a touchdown when he ran to the sidelines and collapsed. It happened during a playoff game between Wallace County and Otis Bison schools in Sharon Springs, Kansas about 220 miles east of Denver.
Luke's father, David Schemm, said his son never regained consciousness.
"Luke is currently on life support but has no brain function, we have come to terms that our beautiful gift from God is no longer with us," said David outside Swedish Medical Center on Wednesday afternoon.
According to a hospital official, he was being kept on life support so family and friends could pay their respects. The hospital confirmed Luke died after being taken off life support Wednesday afternoon.
Luke was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, then flown to Englewood on Tuesday night.
His teammates traveled more than two hours to be at his side in the hospital and say their goodbyes.
"Just as Luke always stood behind his friends and family, today his friends and family stand behind him," said David.
He believes Luke sustained a brain injury from a tackle and that the brain swelling cut off the blood supply to the brain.
Luke was planning on attending Kansas State University. He was a football player, basketball player and singer.
The family hopes the team will continue to play well in the playoffs because they know that's what Luke would have wanted.
The team is scheduled to play in the quarterfinal playoff game against Ingalls on Saturday.
Suzanne McCarroll is a general assignment reporter at CBS4. Her stories can regularly be seen on CBS4 News at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. Connect with her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter @SuzanneCBS4.
